Ormond Lakes Home For Sale Now Under Contract

 STOP Dreaming and START Living the Dream

42 Emerald Oaks Lane, Ormond Beach FL

Sale Pending For this beautiful, GATED home offers perfection in functionality. The quality of construction in this Ben Butera Design is unmistakable. When you enter the home, light spills from the windows that are flanked with custom WOOD PLANTATION SHUTTERS. The wood floors create a warm feel, while the wainscoting accents, and custom woodworking throughout the home bump the charm even more. The kitchen has PLENTY OF WORKSPACE along with the nooks and crannies every cook dreams to have. Double ovens, PULLOUTS in Cabinets, 6 TOP GAS STOVE, along with a breakfast bar, nook and FABULOUS DINING ROOM. The UNIQUE FAMILY ROOM has 22 ft Coffered Ceiling, fireplace and a wall of windows that overlooks the PAVERED PORCH & POOL AREA. There is a laundry both up, and downstairs and a secretary area in the lower floor laundry. There is abundant storage areas that are strategically located throughout the home and you'll LOVE THE MASTER RETREAT. There are CALIFORNIA CLOSET SYSTEMS that make ORGANIZATION a cinch and what's more is that the GARAGE HAS AN OVERSIZED STORAGE AREA. This home is located in the Island Estates GATED AREA of Ormond Lakes and the there are neighborhood TENNIS COURTS, POOL and CLUBHOUSE. Watch our virtual tour of 42 Emerald Oaks Lane in Ormond Beach Florida, down below 

For Help Buying or Selling Your Home Call Mark Card

(386)-566-8091

Financing a First Home

       Financing a first home can be challenging, but buyers who are prepared and know what they can afford will help the process and save themselves unnecessary headaches later. Before starting your home search, follow these financial tips from the National Association of Home Builders and Bankrate.com.
    
     First, figure out what you can afford to pay each month. In addition to principal and interest, figure expenses for local taxes, insurance, and if buying a condominium, monthly assessments. Once you have this calculation, don’t be tempted to pay more than that. Free mortgage calculators, that are available on many real estate and finance websites, can help you estimate monthly payments based on current interest rates and a down payment. Generally, no more than 28% of gross monthly income should be spent on housing costs.

     Pay down your debts. Any credit card debt you have can limit how much you can borrow from a lender. Check your credit report thoroughly for any errors or unpaid accounts, and resolve those issues before moving ahead. Experts suggest that you take at least six months to iron out any credit problems before shopping for a home.

     Determine your monthly cash flow. Track your spending for two or three months to see where money is going. Once you know what you can afford and what your cash flow is, you can determine your down payment.

     Organize documents, especially those that prove your income and taxes. Most lenders may want to see two recent pay stubs, W-2s and tax returns from the previous two years, and the last two monthly bank statements. Having these documents ready ahead of time can help the lending process move smoother and quicker

      If you are just getting started, check out local home-buying seminars or sites that can provides information about shopping homes and financing a home. Ask friends, family and co-workers for referrals for lending professionals they’ve worked with. Talk with lenders and credit counselors to find financing options that will work best for you.

For local homes and monthly payment calculator, check out www.MarkCardTeam.com. Or call our team at (386)566-8091.

Before You List!

What to do Before you List your Home

We have begun a new year, and you may be ready to sell your home this year. There is a lot that needs to be done when selling a home from repairs to cleaning. Now before talking to an agent to list, do these things on your own to be ready for selling.

• Research your home online. Most buyers start searching online, therefore you want to see what is already on the internet about your home before it is listed. Google your home and see what comes up, what the pictures of it may look like, and see if there are estimated values already out there. Researching this you can see what can be fixed, and can possibly contest the estimated values. Also, look at your neighborhood and what is selling in it. 
• List all the improvements and repairs you made. Walk through your home and write down everything you may have changed, no matter how small. Somethings will include a new hot water heater, rebuilt deck, new hardware, or roof replacement. Also list the problems you have addressed and being them up to a professional to see what you may have to disclose.
• Note the obvious flaws. Go through you home and see any things that may need to be fixed. Such as a small dent in the wall from moving furniture or struggling landscaping. These are fixable problems that could affect the sale of your home, and the list gives you an idea of what needs to be done to get the home market-ready. 

Having all these done will make your prepared when you are ready to speak to an agent about selling your home. Our team is dedicated to helping people buy and sell. If you are looking for a qualified agent, contact us at (386)566-8091 or at www.MarkCardTeam.com. 

Thriving in a Seller's Market

Tips to Thrive in a Seller's Market

Right now home inventories are low. This is a seller's market. Buying in this situation can be difficult, and there are often bidding wars for homes. These tips will help you ensure you get the home you want to closing.

1. Treat your hunt seriously. House hunting must be your priority, not your weekend hobby. Check new listings regularly, be prepared to drop everything to view a home when it hits the market, and be ready to make a quick decision. 
2. Bring paperwork, not promises. Want to be taken seriously by the seller? When you visit homes, bring a mortgage pre-approval letter and a “proof of funds” form from your bank showing you have enough to cover the down payment. 
3. Consider waiving what-ifs. Homebuyers often include contingencies when making an offer so they won’t lose their deposit if, for example, the home doesn’t pass inspection. Waiving contingencies could help you close a deal, but this defnitely is not a move for the faint- hearted. To gauge your risks, consult your Realtor and check www.realtor.com/ advice/buy/what-really-happens-when-you-waive-contingencies. 
4. Don’t play hardball. This isn’t the time to  try to lowball on price. Bid aggressively—while still staying within a monthly budget you can afford. 
5. Widen your search. You’ll increase your chances of finding a property if you’re willing to consider homes outside your ideal neighborhood and houses that may need some remodeling or renovations. 

In this market The Mark Card Team wants to help you find the best home in your price range. We will work with you and for you to help you thrive. For more information check us out at www.MarkCardTeam.com. Or contact us at (386)566-8091.

Avoid Closing Traps

Closing Traps

No one wants to delay a closing, but recently nearly a quarter of real estate professionals  say they have been faced with a delay to settlement. Some delays are unavoidable, such as a job loss in the middle of a sale. However, there are three main causes of a delay: lender, appraiser, and inspector. With these three factors buyer's agents can play a critical role in avoiding delays. The following are tips to help buyers get to closing on time.

Financing 
   - Talk to the lender first. Urge buyers to get pre-approved before even looking at homes. Many don't realize their true credit.
   - Gather Documents. At the start of the process, give buyers a list of all the documents they will need to provide to a lender. This includes tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, and even divorce decree, if applicable. Lenders ask for lots of information, so be sure your buyers are aware of this.
   - Keep your finances steady. Avoid behaviors that could jeopardize financing approval. Search "The 10 Commandments of Buying a Home" to more habits that can hurt financing.

Appraisal
   -Appraisals have become a increasing issue in real estate. Many delays related to appraisals are blamed on a shortage of qualified appraisers. Many valuations are not on par with the current market, or appraisers are not familiar with local market. There are just not enough appraisers in some markets to get the job done.
   - Be proficient in estimating fair prices. An agent needs to give a fair home price, and not just go along with what the seller or buyer wants. The appraisers' job is to ensure the price is fair and ensure the lender a solid investment; this is not for the buyers.

Home Inspections
   - Home inspection reports can sometimes lead to delay. When inspectors find issues, the sellers are not always responsible to take care of it. Who is responsible for the repairs is up for negotiation.

Even with these tips, still many issues can come up to threaten a sale, even after a contract is signed. You must be vigilant to keep the odds in your favor and surround yourself with an experienced team of professionals. If you're looking to make a move feel free to contact us at 386-566-8091.

Trendiest Features

Making a Return on Investment of Home Selling

Whether you’re thinking of selling soon or have an eye on remodeling with solid return-on-investment potential, think about which features make your home oh-so-desirable when it’s time to list. An analysis of the Realtor.com listings over the past five years found that the following items were listed most often, solidifying a venerable spot among buyers’ favorites:

1. Fireplace
2. Wood floor
3. Carpet
4. Granite counters
5. Stainless steel appliances
6. Open floor plan
7. Walk-in closet
8. Formal dinning room
9. Vaulted ceiling
10. Open kitchens 

When looking to make a move we can help prepare you and your home for the be resale, or we can help find a home that has the trends you want. Check us out at MarkCardTeam.com. Contact us at (386)566-8091.

20 Questions for Buying a Condo

20 Questions to Ask When Buying a Condo

   according to Florida REALTORS®

1. Condition? What is the condition of the unit-the building- the entire complex?
2. Common Areas? Are common areas well maintained?
3. For sale? How many condos are for sale (a large percentage could be a sign of issues)?
4. Owner Occupied? What percentage of the units are owner-occupied? Some lenders may dislike large majorities being rented.
5. Condo fees? How much are the condo/association fees, and what all do they cover?
6. Reserves? Does the association have adequate reserves for emergencies and renovations?
7. Board Temperament? What is the temperament of the board? Looking at board minutes could reveal tensions or controversies.
8. Lawsuits? Are there any pending lawsuits against the association or judgements you may have to help pay?
9. Insurance? What does the association's insurance cover? You may need supplemental insurance to cover everything else.
10. Debt? How much outstanding debt does the association have?
11. Arrears? What percentage of the units are in the arrears on their dues?
12. Assessments? Does the seller owe back fees or assessments that may become your responsibility after you close?
13. Neighborhood? What is the neighborhood like? Ask neighbor and walk the area at night to check it out and see when residents are home.
14. Parking? Does the unit come with guaranteed parking?
15. Guest Parking? Is there adequate parking for guests as well?
16. Storage? Will you have extra storage for bikes, equipment, tools and the like?
17. Management? Is the association managed by a qualified professional company?
18. Complaints? Does management handle owners' requests and complaints quickly?
19. Rent? Do association rules limit your ability to rent the unit?
20. Restrictions? Will restrictions prevent you from changing visible elements such as the color of your front door or window coverings?

Home Appreciation

What appreciates the most for your home?

A home generally should appreciates between 3 and 4 percent annually. But, not every home appreciates equally. Every market is different of course, and appreciation is naturally affected by factors homeowners can't control. But there are some home features that create greater appreciation than others. Realtor.com did some research and analyzed millions of listings over the past five years to determine what creates the most appreciation. The 5 features they analyzed were: size, bedrooms, floor plan, style, and adjacency.

The following table tells what factors affect a home's appreciation:

Our team understands how a home appreciates, and we want to help you get the most for your home when looking to sell. For more information on our team find us at MarkCardTeam.com or call (386)566-8091. 

Local Residential Inventory

Low Local Inventory Still

   In the first half of this year we have seen a tight availability of inventory. According to statistics released by Florida REALTORS® the recent months' supply of single-family homes in the Daytona Beach Area has a very low inventory The supply in may was 3.8 months. This means that if no new homes are added to our inventory, then the supply of homes on the market would be gone in less than 4 months.
   From previous data and charts, we can see that this market metric has steadily declined in the last few years. Four years ago we were moving towards a more balanced market. And analysts usually consider a 5.5 to 6 month supply as balanced. More recently the supply of homes has shifted towards a seller's market.
   May's data shows a decrease in inventory of residential listings of 11.8% compared to May of last year. In some neighborhoods, the months supply of is under 2. But a good sign for inventory is that new listings added to inventory increased 3.5% compared to last year. This increase shows a good sign for the tight inventory in the area.
   To see the listings available check out our home search on our website: www.MarkCardTeam.com.

Volusia County Schools Early Release

2017-2018 Early Release Schedule

With this new school year upon us, our team wants to make sure everyone stays up to date and involved in our local schools. Through out the year many Wednesdays are early release, meaning students are released 1 hour earlier.
This is all the dates of these early releases:

Tomorrow, August 30th, is an early release day as seen above. Also, in April there are fewer early release day, and this is because of testing happening within the schools.

The Mark Card Team knows this area and is involved in the community. To find out more about the team check us out at www.MarkCardTeam.com and continue to follow our blog.

Why to Buy Now

We want to help you buy! Contact us at (386)566-8091 or check us out at MarkCardTeam.com.

Summertime Nuisances

Summer should be a carefree time. Not the time to have to spend time constantly fixing your home. Here are some issues you may face and ways to help solve them:

#1 Mosquitoes

These bugs can suck the fun out of any outdoor festivities.
What to do:
-Clean your gutters- neglected gutters can be breeding nests for mosquitoes.
-Plug in a fan. Or install a ceiling fan to deter the pests with high winds. 

#2 Doors That Stick

Wooden doors can swell, outgrowing their jambs on humid days, causing an annoyingly sticky situation.
What to do:
-Tighten the hinge screws.
-Scale back the weather stripping. If you installed it in the winter to keep out drafts, it could be too thick come summer.
-Shave down the door. As a last resort, use a planer or sander to trim down the door ever so slightly. Seal the newly exposed edge with paint or wood sealant to block out future humidity.

#3 Carpenter Ants and Carpenter Bees

Carpenter ants and carpenter bees often make their nests by burrowing into your home’s wood, which can cause some really pricey damage on top of their annoying presence.
What to do:
-Keep all exposed wood sealed or painted. Including window sills!
-Direct water away from wood.Gutters and flashing will help keep wood dry.
-Remove existing colonies. Look for sawdust trails to find the entrance, then use a rinsed squeezable ketchup bottle to blow an insecticide dust or boric acid powder into the hole.

#4 AC That Causes You to Freeze in One Room and Sweat in Another

Moving from room to room shouldn't mean a temperature change. 
What to do:
-Check your ductwork. Look for unsealed joints or hire a pro to make sure your ducts are properly working.
-Set your whole-house fan to “on.” This continuous circulation will mix the air so no space is too hot or too cold.
-In two-story homes, send cool air upstairs. 

#5 Fruit Flies

Summer’s excess of fresh fruits and veggies can invite these pests into your home. There’s a ton of solutions on the Internet, but preventative measures work best.
What to do:
-Keep sinks, drains, and disposals clean. Even dirty dishes can harbor fruit flies.
-Freeze food waste. Place rotting fruit, meat scraps, etc. in a bag in your freezer until garbage day.
-Pitch overripe fruit. And until you eradicate the flies, keep all other produce in the fridge or a sealed container.
-Pour bleach or boiling water down the drain. This will kill any eggs or remaining adult flies.

#6 Weeds in Patio Cracks

Besides ruining a well-manicured view, resilient weeds can crack or shift your pavement.
What to do:
-Block new growth. Fill the weed-free cracks with asphalt or cement crack filler, sand, or corn gluten meal, which prevents future germination.
-Pull ‘em. Especially if you don’t want to use an herbicide, which can spread and damage desirable plants.

#7 Faded Furnishings 

Summer makes you want to open the shades and enjoy that summer sunshine, but your furnishings and flooring are sensitive to the fading and drying effects of UV rays.
What to do:
-Add transparent window film. It shuts out 99% of UVA and UVB rays without blocking sunlight or view.
-Spray furnishings with a protectant. Spritz upholstery, curtains, and rugs with a UV-blocking fabric protector and treat wood with a varnish. Providing better sun protection than other types of sealant.

#8 Splinters on the Deck

Keeping your decking is in good shape, your bare feet don’t have to suffer through a gauntlet of splinters again this summer.
What to do:
-Resurface it. Apply one of the newer deck restoration products that essentially gives your deck a coating that will prevent splinters.
-Sand it- this is best if splinters are deep and big. Then apply a water-repelling, UV-resistant sealer.

#9 Slamming Screen Doors

Slamming the doors can not only become annoying, but can damage the hinges of your screen door.
What to do:
-Adjust your door closer. If your door has a closer, find the perfect bang-free tension by simply turning the screw on pneumatic models or rotating the body on hydraulic styles.
- If you don't have one, then add a closer. It costs just $10 to $20 to retrofit an older screen door.
-Apply felt pads to the door frame. 

#10 A Patio or Deck That Burns Your Feet

Your patio or deck should be for enjoying this summer, not giving you the risk of burning you,
What to do:
-Throw some shade. Position an umbrella or pergola over frequently used areas.
-Add an outdoor rug. Choose a lighter color that won’t absorb as much heat. Plastic styles keep their cool best.
-Refinish the surface. If you have a darker color, choose a lighter color. 

#11 Ugly, Dried-Out Brown Grass

Widespread browning, rather than patches of brown grass, has two common causes: lawn care oversights and a cool-season grass going dormant.
What to do:
-Sharpen or replace your mower blades. This could be the answer if just the tips of your grass are brown and jagged.
-Set the blade height to 3 inches. When you take less off the top, it helps grass absorb water before it evaporates.
-Water less frequently, for longer periods of time. This helps grass develop deeper, drought- and disease-resistant roots. Aim for 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week.

Yards with Big Appeal

Lawn Staging

Not everyone has the lush and sprawling yard, and not everyone dreams of the big backyard. So don't count out the smaller outside areas. It can be even be easier to make smaller spaces more charming. There are tips that can make any outdoor space, from balcony to backyard, make a bigger statement.

1. Watch the scale- Decluttering is crucial for outdoor spaces, as it is the rest of the house. You do not want to overcrowd your space. The placement and size of plants is very important in smaller yard spaces. Make sure your trees or plants don't block the architectural features of your home. Also keep garden statues and ornaments to a minimum.
2. Set a focal point- Outdoor spaces often benefit from an attention-grabbing feature. These include a water fountain, outdoor fireplace, or just a restful nook in a compact garden. 
3. Outdoor reflections- A trick borrowed from interior designers, hang an outdoor-friendly mirror on an exterior wall to reflect light and make spaces feel more open. Be mindful of what you are reflecting, make it greenery, not a bare wall.
4. Go for the vertical- Taller plants can add height to areas. A spiral topiary by a front door can accentuate the space. For height, prune your plants to grow vertically, rather than out. Also, vertical wall planters can add to the space and plant height; consider using containers of ornamental grasses. 

Outdoor spaces can be a great selling point to a home, and no matter the size you can make it feel more charming. Adding a appeal to your yard can take just a few steps. 

For more home tips check out more of our blog or out website, MarkCardTeam.com.